Rebekah Brooks Resigns From News Corp. Over Hacking Scandal

Rebekah Brooks, the former editor of the
News Of The World, who now runs News International,
has
just resigned from her post at News Corp.

While News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch has stuck by Brooks -- he
considers her a member of the family, and has rejected two
previous offers from her to resign -- the fact that she
edited the paper during an egregious period of hacking
voicemails, made her position untenable to many.

Since it was revealed that NOTW hacked into the voicemail of a
murdered girl, Brooks has faced calls for her resignation from
prominent members of the British government, including Prime
Minister David Cameron.

In a BBC
television interview last night, News Corp's second largest
shareholder Saudi prince Alwaleed bin Talal
al-Saud,
called for Brooks to step down: "For sure she has to go, you
bet she has to go. Ethics to me is very important. I will not
tolerate to deal with a company that has a lady or a man that has
any sliver of doubts on her or his integrity."

Brooks was the one who delivered the bad news
to furious NOTW writers that the paper was shutting down,
prompting questions about why she was still at the company at
all. To some, her departure seemed like only a matter of time.

At News International we pride ourselves on setting the news
agenda for the right reasons. Today we are leading the news for
the wrong ones.

The reputation of the company we love so much, as well as the
press freedoms we value so highly, are all at risk.

As Chief Executive of the company, I feel a deep sense of
responsibility for the people we have hurt and I want to
reiterate how sorry I am for what we now know to have taken
place.

I have believed that the right and responsible action has been to
lead us through the heat of the crisis. However my desire to
remain on the bridge has made me a focal point of the
debate.

This is now detracting attention from all our honest endeavours
to fix the problems of the past.
Therefore I have given Rupert and James Murdoch my resignation.
While it has been a subject of discussion, this time my
resignation has been accepted.

Rupert's wisdom, kindness and incisive advice has guided me
throughout my career and James is an inspirational leader who has
shown me great loyalty and friendship.

I would like to thank them both for their support.

I have worked here for 22 years and I know it to be part of the
finest media company in the world.
News International is full of talented, professional and
honourable people. I am proud to have been part of the team and
lucky to know so many brilliant journalists and media
executives.

I leave with the happiest of memories and an abundance of
friends.

As you can imagine recent times have been tough. I now need to
concentrate on correcting the distortions and rebutting the
allegations about my record as a journalist, an editor and
executive.

My resignation makes it possible for me to have the freedom and
the time to give my full cooperation to all the current and
future inquiries, the police investigations and the CMS
appearance.

I am so grateful for all the messages of support. I have nothing
but overwhelming respect for you and our millions of
readers.